Folding bed-lounge.



D; F. DYKE.

. FOLDING BED LOUNGE. APPLICATION man JUNE 1. 1915.

1,232,013. I Patented July 3,1917.-

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

D. F. D'YKE.

FOLDING BED LOUNGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 191-5.

rammed July 3, 1917,

3 SHEETS,SHEE T 2- -lZV////A D. F. DYKE.

VFOLDIVNG BED LOUNGE. APPLICATION men mu: 1. 1915.

Patented July 3, 1917.

q SHEETS-SHEET 3 DARRELL FRANK DYKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED-LOUNGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1917.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,387.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DARRELL FRANK DYKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements .in Folding Bed-Lounges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of folding sofa beds. It consists in the features and elements of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

, In the drawings:

Figure '1 is avertical fore-and-aft section of a folding sofa bed embodying this invention, Withthe bed member folded up so that the device is in position to be used as a seat or sofa.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bed member extended in horizontal position for use as a bed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal 3-3 on Fig. 2. v

, Fig. 4: is a partly sectional elevation lookingin the direction of the arrow 4 on Fig. 3 of one of the ends of the fixed frame and fittings thereon, section being made in vertical plane cutting the cross bars of said frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail section at the, line 55 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail section at the line 6-6 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail section at the line 7-7 on Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail end elevations of the outer side of the outermost bed section showing the legs thereon at two positions The structure shown in the drawings comprises a fixed frame, A, which comprises ends, A A forming the arms of the sofa, a rear cross tie bar, A and bottom tie bar A and a folding bed frame'comprising five sections successively hinged together, the first or innermost section, B, being pivoted at its inner ends to the fixed seat frame by sliding pivotal connections at pivot brackets, 1, 1, mounted on the ends, A the fifth or outermost section, F, being fulcrumed by means of its rigid lever arms, F on the fixed frame, A, at the'forward side thereof near the floor line, pivot studs, 2, 2, being pro vided for that purpose 'on the frame ends or section at the line seat arms, A A, the intermediate sections,

manner automatically by the C, D, and E, being successively pivoted together, the section, C, having its opposite side bars pivoted to the outer ends ofthe corresponding side bars of the section, B, and the section, E, being similarly hinged to the section, F. p v

A seat member, G, is pivoted about midway of its width to rigid arms, 7", of the levers, F respectively, and pivotally connected at its upper corner by links, G to the adjacent ends, A, of the fixed frame, the two pivots of the seat being at such points and the link, G being of such length and pivoted at such point on the fixed frame,

A, as to cause the seat member to move down and forward without turning over when said outermost bed section, F, is swung from closed position, (at which said section is be hind the seat back) to extended position at which it is at the outermost end of the bed in front of the fixed frame, A. Legs, H, H, are pivoted 0n the outer rail of the outer most bed section, F, for swinging transversely of the length of the bed from horizontal position lying along the rail to vertical or bed-supporting position. The seat back, J, is hinged at its upper rear corners to the section, F, so that it swings pendulum-wise as said section, F, is swung about its fulcrum at the foot of the fixed frame, A, and by means of links, K, K, connecting the back, J, to the legs, H, H, respec tively, said back is caused by gravity action to operate the legs, swinging them from horizontal to vertical position as the section, F, is swung from closed to extended position.

The ultimate purpose and motive for making the bed frame in five sections, as described, is to adapt it to be folded by drooping from the inner end pivotal support of the innermost section to the fixed frame, A, down into the space below the seat and between the ends, A A of the fixed frame, and extending with a single recntrant angle up behind the seat back, as may be clearly seen in Fig. 2. In order to be folded in this operator swinging the outermost section, F, about its low fulcrum onthe front side of the fixed frame, A, near the floor, and also to be positively supported at all the joints at extended position, as is necessary in order that the bed may support its load without sagging by the folding of these joints, it is necessary to provide against the possibility of some-of the joints starting to fold in the wrong direction when the section, F, starts up from extended position. It will be observed that all the joints except that at which the reentrant angle mentioned occurs (between the fourth and fifth sections) must move in the folding relatively to the plane of the extended frame, in a direction which is downward from the horizontal position, and this must be provided for in spite of the apparently opposed requirement that said joints must not yield downward under the load which the bed may carry when extendcd. These apparently contrary requirements are met by the construction which will now be described.

The pivotal connection of the innermost section, B, to the fixed frame is adapted to permit a limited short longitudinal move ment of said section, this being most easily effected by slotting the side bars of said section, B, for engagement with the pivots of the brackets, 1, as mentioned. The proper folding of the bed frame to cause it to drop as (lCSC/Ill'mtl, requires preferably. that the first joint (between the innermost and the next outer section) shall be the first to break and fold down, and that the other joints from that point outward shall break successively in their order. This result is insured by the following features: (a) providing a spring or springs, M, stretched between brackets, c, on section C, and e, on section E, past the second and third joints ou the under side, connecting the two members at opposite sides of the joints, said members being formed for abutting endwise and being stopped horizontally at the cxtended position of the folding bed frame,

preventing the oint from folding upward past the horizontal or fully extended position; (7)) constructing the first joint (between the innermost section and the next outer section) without the provision of such spring, so that the weight of the parts will tend to fold that joint downward as soon as it is free from any support; (0) providing upon the fixed frame, A, on .the inner side of the end i'nembcrs, A, fixed supports, N and N. for the first and second joints at the extended or horizontal position of the bed frame, said joints-that is, one or the other of the meeting members at a point near the joint,-being provided with a projection or abutmcnt,extending out for lodgment on the support at said fully extended or horizontal position of the folding frame. These supports extend horizontally from the position at which the abutment mentioned is lodged upon them for a short distance only, it being necessary only that these joints should be supported at the extended position of the bed so that the load upon the bed cannot depress the joints. In the process of folding up the bed by swing folding of said ing upward the outermost member about its fulcrum on the forward lower side of the fixed frame, the springs, M, mentioned, tending to hold the second and thirdvjoints extended, causes the entire structure consisting of the three innermost sections, to be thrust rearward by the upward and rearward swinging movement of said outer mem her, the fourth section operating as a link to connect said outer member with the three innermost members moving bodily as one, with a rearward horizontal thrust until the abutments of the first and second joints pass off the supports, N and N respectively. In this short rearward thrusting movement, the innermost section, 1?, slides at the pivotal connection of its inner end with the fixed frame, as the first andsecond joints slide upon said fixed supports; but as soon as the first joint moves off .its support the weight of the parts connected at that joint causes the joint to descend and thereby to be flexed or folded while the second and third joints are still prevented from folding by their springs mentioned. The supports, N and N are formed so that the first joint runs off its support a little before the second joint runs off of its support, and thus the first joint will be in position to fold while the second still remains extmded, and as the upward rearward swinging movement of the outcrl'nost section is continued, said first joint will descend farther as the innermost member swings down about its pivot on the fixed frame, and slides on said pivot to the limit of the slot, and then continues to swing down rearward until it meets a stop, 7), which is provided upon the fixed frame to arrest it at substantially vertical position. When this innermost section is thus stopped, the further upward rearward swinging movement of the outermost sec tion causes the second joint to be folded down during the further continued rearward upward swinging of said outermost section until such folding is arrested by the collision of a shoulder formed by a projection, D on the section, D, meeting the upper edge of the section, C, when the two sections are approximately at right angles to each other. This collision arresting the two sections at the second joint, causes the third joint to fcld'back or down as the rearward upward swinging movement of the outermost section continues. Such folding of the third joint can occur only as the fourth joint is permitted to fold in the opposite dircction,that is, to produce a reiintrant angle as described,- and the simultaneous jointsQone outward and the other inward, continues during the closing movement of the outermost section in folding up from extended to closed position of the structure.

In order to ease the movement of folding and unfolding so that the operator will not I some times, even though, as ori 'nally con be obliged to lift the weight of the parts to any considerable extent, a spring, T, at each side is stretched from a point on the inner side of the end, A of the fixed-frame in a line directly toward the fulcrum (if the outermost section, F, on the fixed frame, and

secured to the lever arm, F of said section, at a oint on the lever, F which is in said line at the position when said section, F, is swung up to a point at which the weight of the parts carried by it is substantially balanced over the fulcrum. This causes the spring to be lst'retched by the movement of the section, F, either way from that balanced position, and thereby causes the spring to support acertain portion of the weight throughout the movement in either direction from said balanced position; and the spring may be so proportioned that its increasing tension asit is stretched shalLsubstantially counterpoise at all times the weight carried by said fulcrumed section, F, thus making the opening and closing movement of the structure very easy for the operator.

In the operation of the folding'structure described when it carries the weight of the bedding, this weight may be so distributed as to create a possibility or tendency of the second joint folding up so that its pivot shall be a little above or rearward of the line of thrust or pull from the third to the first pivot in the swinging movement of the fulcrumed section, this becoming possible by reason of more or less. slack in'the joints which may exist after the bed has been used structed, it would not be, possi le; and if this should occur, it will be seen that the further folding movement of the structure would be blocked and the parts would be-,

- come locked against the necessary swinging 'movement of the outermost sections- To prevent this possibility, it is preferred to provide an extension of the support, N for the second joint in the form of a cam track for the abutment which rests upon that support, so shaped as to carry the sup 1 uport downward definitely as soon as it has passed off the horizontal portion of the sup port and is ata position where it should fold down and be prevented from buckling up in thefolding or unfolding movementin ordeiigtolprevent the blocking action described. Such cam track'extension of the support, N isshown at N i -.Upon considering the structure described,

it will be observed that although there are --six pivotal connections, four being the joints {between the five consecutive sections and 1 two being the pivotal connections of the'in nermost and outermost sections to the fixedframe, yet, by reason of the fact that the pivotal connection of the outermost section,

. connections in the horizontal frame at extended position including the pivotal connection of the innermost section to the fixed frame; and it will be obvious that since said innermost pivotal connection constitutes a fixed support against downward movement, and the outermost section is supported against downward movement by being fulcrumed; as described, upon the fixed frame at a low point and supported by legs at the outer side, thereby rendering the pivotal connection of the next to the outermost section to the outermost section practically a fixed support. If the middle one of the five pivotal connections is also supported, the entire extended frame will be substantially supported for the purpose of carrying any load which may rest upon it; and it will be seen therefore that the most essential joint to be supported is this middle one of the five joints, that is, the joint at the inner end of theiniddle section. It will be seen that such support would be completely effective against any sagging of the extended frame, but for the-fact that theinnermost pivotal connection is adapted to permit a short longitudinal movement of the innermost section which would permit a sagging of the first joint if no provision were made to prevent such sagging; and such sagging can be prevented by a variety of expedients which will be obvious. It will also be seen, upon consideration of the structure, that in order to provide .a positive support upon the fixed frame for this middle pivot, and at the same time provide for the necessary drooping of the joint for folding of the frame in the manner described, provision must be made for a short inward movement horizontally to carry this pivot off of whatever support is provided for it at the fullv extended; position. These two features therefore,namely, providing support for the middle pivot, and provision for a short horizontal movement rearward on such support in the foldingaction, are to be regarded as important features of the invention.

It will be noticed that the-fulcrum support of the outer section, F, of the folding frame is substantially directly under the joint of the second and middle members. A

reason for this is that if it were at any substantlal distance outward from the vertical plane of the pivot of said joint, then, in the absence of or upon any failure of the immedlatesupport whlch 1s shown for said joint,

the weight of the occupant of the bed, when rn sltting position for example, would be carried on the shorter arm of a lever struc ture comprising the outer, the fourth and oriitsfulc'rum', as described, upon 'thefi xed the middle sections, having its fulcrum at said fulcrum support of the outer section acting on the lever arm, F, of the section tending to yieldingly uphold said section, it

on the fixed frame; and such weight might easily be suficient to tip the entire lever structure mentioned over said fulcrum on the fixed frame, lifting the outer or foot end of the bed and dropping the occupant into the sag which would be formed back of the joint between the middle and second members. It will be seen, furthermore, that this possibility arises from the presence of a oint between said last mentioned joint and the positive support on the first section on the fixed frame at 1, (disregarding the support, N, which has another purpose and might be omitted if that other purpose were not regarded important). A second reason for positioning the joint between the second and middle members over the fulcrum on the outer member on the fixed frame, is so that the initial inward movement of that joint in the upper swinging or folding movement of the folding frame, shall be substantially horizontal or directly rearward for the short distance through which. for obtaining the mode of action described, it is important to give the sections, B and (I, a direct rearward thrust for carrying the joint between said two sections off the support, N, before the joint between C and D begins to descend.

Beyond that limited substantially horizontal part ofthe path of said joint between the middle and second members. the cam track affording support for said joint follows a downward and rearward curve about the fulcrum of the outer member -on the fixed frame, for about sixty degrees, and then drops off nearly vertically to accommodate themovement of said joint after the folding of the joint between the sections B and D commences.

The arms, F, of theouter section. F, are formed near its fulcrum on the fixed frame for affording a seat at F, to which is secured the front board, P, which is proportioned for closing the front of the fixed frame at folded position of the folding frame, the seat member, G,having a front lip or panel, G depending at the forward side to meet the upper edge of said front board at saidclosed position to afford the seat support thereon. The entire width of the front opening of the fixed frame to be closed. is so divided betwen said lip or panel, G and said front board, P, asto make the width of the lip of the seat wide enough to reach and rest upon the floor at extended position of the folding frame. The reason for this is that in swinging the folded frame down from folded to extended position, the joints between sections, F and E, and between sec.- tions E and I), are initially flexed in the direction shown in Fig. l, and the spring, T,

results that the down-pull of the operator on the outer end of said section, F, after the spring, T, becomes taut, tends to. tilt the entire structure over the forward bottom corner of the fixed frame; and in the absence of means to prevent it, the fixed frame would be thus tipped forward by the time the legs, H, reached the floor, the joints of the folding frame, or some of them, remaining partly flexed. This is prevented by making the front lip of the seat reach the floor when the bed is fully extended, which causes said lip to strike the floor before the legs. H, and forces the straightening of the sections into alinement as the operator afterward forces the legs down to the fioor. This expedient, it will be seen, accomplishes what might be accomplished by weighting the head members enough to counter-balance the extended frame over the fulcrum afforded by the forward edge of the fixed frame resting on the floor, and avoids such weighting. I claim 1-. In combination with a fixed frame, a foldingframe comprising five'sections, the

first or innermost pivoted to the fixed frame at the rear at bed height; the fifth, or outermost, pivoted to the fixed frame at the forward side near the floor and having its outer end portion horizontal at extended position, the second pivoted to the free end of the first, the fourth pivoted to said horizontal portion of the outermost section, the middle section being pivoted at its opposite ends to the proximate ends ofthe second and fourth sections, means tending to hold the third and fourth sections extended in alinement,

and means on the fixed frame for support ing the inner'pivot of the middle section formed to permit said pivot to descend from horizontal or extended position of the frame, only after a predetermined rearward movement of said pivot in swinging up the outermost section about its floor pivot; the joint between the first and second sections being before the end of said rearward movement without support, whereby the joint between the innermost and the second section is caused to be the first to fold downward when the outermost section is swung upward.

'2. In combination with a fixed frame, a folding frame comprising five sections, the first or innermost being pivoted to the fixed frame at the rear at bed height; the fifth or outermost pivoted to the fixed frame at the forward side near the floor and having its outer end portion horizontal at extended position, the second pivoted to the first, and the fourth pivoted to said horizontal portion of the outermost section, the middle section being pivoted at its opposite. ends to the proximate ends of the second and fourth sections, the first joint being adapted to fold by gravity from extended position of the bed frame; supports on the fixed frame for the first and second joints at extended position of the folding frame formed to permit said joints to descend after a short predetermined rearward movement of said joints when the outermost section is swung upward about its fulcrum and to uphold said second joint longer than the first; whereby the joints of the folding frame fold downward successively in the order of their positions commencing with the innermost;

3. In combination with a fixed frame,'a folding frame comprising five sections, the

' first or innermost pivoted to the fixed frame at the rear at substantially bed height; the

fifth or outermost fulcrumed on the fixed frame at the forward side near the fioor level and having its outer end portion horizontal at extended position, the second section being pivoted to the free end of the first, the fourth pivoted to said horizontal portion of the outermost section, the middle section being pivoted at its opposite ends to the proximate ends of the second and fourth sections, the joint between the second and third sections being at the extended position of the bed frame located approximately Vertically above the fulcrum of the outermost section; a support on the fixed frame for said last mentioned joint, both joints of said middle section being formed with cooperating means on the adjacent sections at said points for stopping the unfolding movement of said folding frame at the horizontal or fully extended position; springs tending to extend the same and to resist folding; the joint of the innermost section to the next section being free to fold by gravity after limited rearward movement' of said joint, the support of the inner end joint of the middle section being formed substantially in an are about the fulcrum of the outermost section for a limited distance and then cut away to permit said joint to descend more rapidly than such arc.

4. In combination with a fixed frame, a

' folding frame comprising five sections, the

first or innermost being pivoted to the fixed frame at the rear at bed height, the fifth or outermostpivoted to the fixed frame at the forward side near the fioor and having'its outer end portion horizontal at extended position, the second section pivoted to the free end of the first, the fourth pivoted to the horizontal portion of the outermost section, the middle section being pivoted at its opposite ends to the proximate ends of the second and fourth sections, the several jo nts being constructed to stop their unfolding movement at fully extended position of the folding frame, and to permit the joints to fold in the direction which would be downward from said horizontal or extended position; springs operating on the oints of the middle section to hold the folding frame extended; and additional means associated with the several joints to cause them to break for folding in a predetermined order as the outermost section swings up from horizontal position.

In combination with a fixed frame, a folding frame comprising five sections, the first or innermost pivoted to the fixed frame at the rear at bed height, the fifth or outer most fulcrumed on the fixed frame at the forward side near the floor and having its outer. end portion horizontal at extended position of the folding frame, the second pivoted to the free end of the first, the fourth pivoted to said horizontal portion of the. outermost section, the middle section being pivoted at its opposite ends to the proximate ends of the second and fourth sections, springs operating to hold the joints extended, and additional means associated withthe several joints to cause them to break for folding against resistance of the springs in a predetermined order as the outermost section swings upward from hori zontal position, the innermost section having its pivotal connection to the fixed frame constructed for limited longitudinal move ment of said section, the second and third sections having parts at their joint, cooperating to limit the folding movement when said two members are at a predetermined angle to each other.

6. In a folding be'd lounge, in combination with a fixed scat frame, .a folding bed frame comprising five sections successively pivoted together, the first section having sliding pivotal connection with the seat frame at the rear side, the fifth section having pivotal connection with the seat frame near the floor line at the forward side, the first three joints being constructed for folding only in the direction which would carry the joints downward from extended horizontal position of the folding frame, the fourth joint being constructed for folding in the opposite direction, supports on the fixed frame for the first and second. joints at horizontally extended position of the frame, and abutments on the frame members projecting for lodgment on such supports and adapted for a -limited sliding movement thereon, said supports being formed to permit the. abutments to descend at the limit of such sliding movement.

7. In combination with a fixed seat frame, a foldin bed frame, comprising an outermost be section which is horizontal at extended position of the frame and has arms for pivotally connecting it with the lower forward part of the seat frame; a seat back carried by said section; a seat member, and links connecting the seat member at rear and forward poinir respectively with the a foldingbed frame comprising a section having legs for floor support of the bed frame at extended position of said frame, said legs pivotally mounted on said bed frame section for swinging to and from bedsupporting position; a seat back hinged near its upper edge to said bed frame section at the side of the latter which is downward at the extended position of the bed frame, whereby at extended position of the bed it is adapted to operate as a lever having its greater portion extended rearward from its fulcrum at the hinge; operative connections to the legs from the back at the other side of said fulcrum, adapted to cause the weight of the back to swing the legs to and from their bed-supporting position as the-folding frame is swung from to extended and to closed-up position respectively.

9. In combination with a fixed seat frame, a folding bed frame comprising an outermost section which is pivotally attached to the lower part of the front of the seat frame, a seat back and a front board, both carried by said pivoted bed frame section; a seat member and links connecting it to the fixed frame and to said pivoted bed frame section proportioned and pivotally positioned to cause the seat member to be carried from seating position forward and downward without reversing by the movement of the bed frame section which carries the seat back away from its operative position, the front board being positioned on said pivoted bed frame section for lodg'ment upon its upper edge of the forward side of the seat member at operative position of the latter and folded position of the bed frame, said seat member being positioned and proportioned for lodging its lower forward edge on the floor at the extended position of the folding bed frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of May, 1915.

DARRELL r'aA'N'K DYKE.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. Sane, JoHN M. BROST. 

